Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman have called into question the European Championship play-offs, as Wales are set to face off with Poland on Tuesday evening, on Mail Sport podcast It’s All Kicking Off.
Rob Page’s side were unable to ease past Croatia to take second place in their Euros qualifying group, finishing third after ending their campaign with unsatisfying draws against Armenia and Turkey.
But after a 4-1 thrashing of Finland in last week’s play-off semi-final, the Dragons are dreaming of a spot in this summer’s tournament – should they bypass Poland in Cardiff.
However, their route to a possible spot at Euro 2024 calls into question the entire qualifcation process in the co-hosts’ minds, due to its reliance on Nations League performances – despite Wales being relegated from Pool A into Pool B at the end of their last campaign.
While Ladyman was looking forward to the prospect of Wales potentially travelling to Germany in June and ‘wishing them well’, he questioned whether they were deserving of the ‘reward’ of a play-off sport.
Wales will learn their Euro 2024 fate on Tuesday evening when they play Poland in Cardiff
It’s All Kicking Off co-hosts Ian Ladyman (left) and Chris Sutton both questioned their route
Dragons won a qualifying spot on the back of Nations League performance – which was patchy
Your browser does not support iframes.
‘Wales finished third in their qualification group, behind Croatia and Turkey but were pretty much always certain of a qualification spot because of their Nations League performance,’ Ladyman explained.
‘I looked this up, their Nations League performance included five defeats and one draw, and they were relegated from Pool A into Pool B.
‘How are they getting in on the back of their Nations League performance, if that’s their Nations League performance?
‘It’s because most of the teams above them in the Nations League standings qualified for the Euros through the traditional manner finishing in the top two of their groups. So because they’ve all got into the Euros in the normal way, Wales get a play-off spot!
‘It is not (Wales’ fault) but what’s it rewarding? We’re supposed to be talking about an elite football tournament European Championship, just like the World Cup is supposed to be an elite football tournament. That’s not elite.
‘What that is, is essentially expanding the tournament from 16 to 24 and padding as many teams into the summer tournament as possible. This will be an unpopular opinion, but Wales do not deserve to be there.’
Sutton agreed with co-host and stressed that the decision would come down to ‘money’.
‘But I think it’s a bit harsh if they do seem to have gotten away with it,’ Sutton added. ‘It’s a bit of a wild card, but good luck to them!’
‘Here’s another example – and this is mind-blowing – Estonia finished bottom in Group F, they got one point,’ Ladyman continued, illustrating the perceived failings in the qualification process.
‘They got into the play-offs above the two teams who finished above them in the qualifying group (Sweden and Azerbaijan), because of their Nations League performance.
‘In Group J, five of the six teams either qualified automatically or got into the play-offs, because of their Nations League performance – it’s nonsense!
‘What’s the point of having qualifying groups if you don’t use them to work out who gets in the play-offs?
Estonia received a play-off spot despite finishing bottom of their group – and were thumped 5-1 by Poland last week
Liechtenstein (Philipp Ospelt pictured left) are the only team from Group J not to have qualified or won a play-off spot
‘What worries me about it, and there are two schools of thought here; expanding tournaments, some people will say it’s great for the smaller nations to get to the tournament, it gives them an opportunity to play and learn.
But Ladyman was quick to shared the other side of the coin, adding: ‘what I say is it gives them the temptation to become comfortable.
‘If they know they’re going to get in, what encourages them to improve their coaching infrastructures, to improve their academies, to improve their domestic leagues if they already know they’re going to be given a huge leg-up to get into the summer tournaments, and make money from TV rights and all the rest of it.
‘Where’s the encouragement to get better if they’re always get a shot at it regardless?’